A massive light screen projected the battle scene into the air.
Breaking through to the Divine Transformation stage revealed one's true self.
Chen Xuanyi's features materialized clearly on the screen—his handsome, dignified face bore no resemblance to the sinister villain he truly was.
Yet this very face now belonged to someone else.
A moment of dead silence.
Then the entire city erupted in uproar.
The slow-witted were still confused: "What's happening? Why did his face change? Was he poisoned? Or is he wearing a disguise?"
"Ugh, are you stupid?" A sharper onlooker scoffed. "Can't you see? He was forced into Divine Transformation—his real form's been exposed!"
The slow ones remained baffled: "Huh?"
The seeds Luo Luo had planted had long taken root, and now they fully blossomed.
The quick-minded pieced it together: "No wonder! I always thought something was off about him! During the preliminaries, he ignored all those commoners in danger just to show off with that woman! Li Zhaoye would never act like that!"
Others nodded in agreement. "Exactly! His behavior is nothing like Li Zhaoye's."
Some empathized deeply with Luo Luo: "Luo Luo and Li Zhaoye were so close—of course she noticed something was wrong. That’s why he faked amnesia and brought another woman back. How cruel! Luo Luo must have been heartbroken, thinking her fiancé had fallen for someone else."
"Trash belongs with trash—him and Gu Meng deserve each other!"
"I always said this wasn’t amnesia—it was like he became a different person. Turns out I was right! It was a soul theft!"
The words "soul theft" sent another wave of shock through the crowd.
Outrage spread like wildfire.
No sane person would side with a cultivator who stole another’s body—only the victim and their loved ones deserved sympathy.
"To steal Li Zhaoye’s body, he had to crush his meridians, shatter his bones, and obliterate his soul! How horrifying!"
"Luo Luo must have known the truth all along, but no one believed her. She’s suffered so much! I’d have broken down in her place."
"Absolutely. She fought through severe injuries just to get justice for Li Zhaoye. That bastard Chen Xuanyi deserves to die!"
"Wait!" Someone gasped in realization. "After Li Zhaoye’s 'amnesia,' it was Daoist Xuan Yi who rebuilt his sword meridians! Xuan Yi… Chen Xuanyi?!"
"Don’t tell me—Xuan Yi, Chen Xuanyi?!"
"He uses the Tai Xuan Sect’s techniques, and the Taiyi Divine Sword recognizes him as its master… This—this can’t be!"
The crowd collectively realized they’d stumbled upon an earth-shattering secret.
The more they thought, the more terrifying it became. Gasps filled the air as chills ran down spines.
The heated discussions and condemnations abruptly ceased. Fear spread, and silence fell like a heavy curtain.
A Daoist at the Harmony Stage could annihilate entire realms with a wave of their hand. How many here had ever seen one in person?
All eyes turned to the high platform where the sect leaders sat.
Even the most composed among them now wore expressions of shock.
True Lord Pangyue feigned surprise, glancing at Lingxue. "Well, this is… truly jaw-dropping!"
He wasted no time distancing himself—this scandal had nothing to do with him, and he certainly hadn’t orchestrated this public spectacle.
Master Lingxue’s face darkened.
She recognized her master’s face instantly.
A Daoist stealing a disciple’s body was an unimaginable disgrace—and now, their sect’s reputation was crumbling before the entire world.
The Master of Chongxing Sect rubbed his eyes as if waking from a dream. "Oh dear, I must still be asleep. Did I just see Daoist Xuan Yi fighting? Maybe I should go back to bed."
He shut his eyes, signaling his refusal to get involved.
True Lord Pangyue leaned forward, covering his voice-transmitting artifact. "Ahem, esteemed colleagues, shouldn’t we declare Luo Luo the winner per the tournament rules? Defeating Daoist Xuan Yi—she’s not just the champion, she’s legendary!"
His attempt at composure couldn’t hide his glee.
Master Lingxue shot him a glare. "The elders haven’t spoken yet."
True Lord Pangyue’s smile stiffened, and he promptly shut his mouth.
She was right—this involved a Daoist. Juniors had no say in the matter.
Daoist Cangyue hadn’t even stepped forward to greet his old friend yet.
True Lord Pangyue chuckled awkwardly, pushing the artifact away. "Well, the incense is almost burnt out anyway. Let’s just… wait."
His eyes darted around but found no trace of his own sect’s ancestor.
Beside Feng Baiyan, however, stood an unremarkable figure.
The man patted Feng Baiyan’s shoulder, giggling. "The Opportunist King finally got what he deserved."
Feng Baiyan frowned. "Old man, what ‘Opportunist King’?"
"Look." The elder jerked his chin toward Chen Xuanyi on the stage. "Him."
"Oh?"
Feng Baiyan raised an eyebrow.
Opportunist King? Interesting.
Once Chen Xuanyi’s true identity was exposed, the arena fell into dead silence.
All eyes locked onto the duel still unfolding below.
"So… she knew she was facing a Daoist?" Whispers rippled through the crowd. "For Li Zhaoye’s sake, she dared to fight one…"
Respect bloomed in their hearts.
Luo Luo tightened her grip on her sword.
The Autumn Water Sword remained lodged in Chen Xuanyi’s body—only by leaning on it could she stay upright.
Her body swayed weakly, direction dictated by the wind. A child could topple her with a single finger.
She lifted her gaze. "Chen Xuanyi… you’re ruined."
The shattered halves of the Taiyi Sword lay at his feet.
He gripped the Autumn Water Sword’s blade, wrenching it free with a sickening scrape.
"So what?" Blood dripped from his lips, his eyes crimson, his face ghastly pale. "Do you think some righteous hero will step forward to punish me? Naive."
Creak. Crack.
The sword inched out of his flesh.
He spat blood and smirked. "Look around. See if anyone dares."
Luo Luo turned toward the crowd.
Not a single person met her eyes.
Chen Xuanyi chuckled darkly. "No one wants to face the full wrath of a Daoist willing to fight to the death. As for your so-called 'Divine Master'... believe me, even if the Tai Xuan Sect has to sacrifice every last member, they will stand before me, ensuring my survival and aiding my recovery."
Without a Daoist Lord, the Tai Xuan Sect would be devoured within a few years, leaving not even scraps behind.
Chen Xuanyi knew this all too well.
"Crack. Crack."
The Qiushui Sword was slowly being pulled out inch by inch.
He sneered at her. "Personal grudges versus the survival of an entire sect—any sensible person would weigh the difference."
Despite his severe injuries, he had forcibly broken through to a higher realm, leaving his foundation dangerously unstable.
A pity, then, that Luo Luo didn’t have even a drop of spiritual energy left.
He pushed the sword outward, its tip pressing against something as yielding as cotton. Even with all her strength, she could only watch helplessly as the blade slowly sank deeper into her.
The sword was nearly free of his body now.
"You ruined my Taiyi Sword," he murmured, narrowing his eyes. "Compensate by becoming my cauldron."
His hatred for her had twisted into something monstrous.
Killing her wouldn’t be enough to quell his fury.
Only by breaking her spirit, forcing her to submit beneath him, begging for pleasure—only then could he truly vent his rage.
He stared into her eyes, eager to see humiliation and fury.
But Luo Luo didn’t react with anger. She merely shifted her gaze from the sword to his face, her expression eerily calm.
"You think I have no strength left to harm you, so you dare say such things," she acknowledged. "True, I don’t have a shred of spiritual energy left."
Chen Xuanyi yanked the sword harder.
The Qiushui Sword curved inward—almost fully withdrawn.
"You assume I’d rely on others to deal with you," Luo Luo smiled. "You’re wrong. I’d never leave it to someone else—I want to kill you myself."
Chen Xuanyi’s expression flickered.
In that instant, he heard the crisp shattering of a golden core.
His eyes snapped to hers.
Her pupils were slightly larger than most, dark and gleaming like pools of black mercury in liquid silver.
She had always seemed a little slow, her gaze guileless and sincere.
But now, he saw nothing but endless mockery in those depths.
"If you can break through, why can’t I?"
The golden core she had forcibly suppressed since the Divine Palace’s illusion finally shattered!
Her cultivation was solid, her foundation unshakable. Holding back her advancement had been agonizing.
Now, breaking through felt effortless—like crumbling deadwood, like water finding its course.
So what if her spiritual energy was exhausted?
The explosive force of ascending to Nascent Soul was more than enough to drive the nearly freed Qiushui Sword straight back into him!
"Gah—!"
Chen Xuanyi spat blood.
"You—!" His eyes bulged with fury.
During a breakthrough, one’s realm was unstable—any cultivator would tread carefully, fearing the slightest misstep.
Yet in her, he saw no trace of fear, hesitation, or pain.
She and her sword moved with unstoppable momentum.
"Shhk—!"
As the Qiushui Sword pierced through him, her left wrist flicked, summoning another blade.
Changtian.
Chen Xuanyi barely managed to twist aside.
His ribs cracked sickeningly—a hair’s breadth from his heart.
His pupils trembled.
The corner of her lips curled into a cold, merciless arc as she gripped both swords and viciously twisted!
Chen Xuanyi coughed up more blood, his qi and blood churning violently.
The tainted energy he had forcibly taken from Gu Meng had agitated the unassimilated Taiyi True Breath within him.
Now, struggling to stabilize his crumbling realm while suppressing the rampaging True Breath, he was stretched to his limits. A terrible premonition seized him.
A wise man knows when to retreat!
"I surrender!" he roared.
"Ding—"
A golden bell chimed.
"Luo Luo—victor!"
But Luo Luo didn’t stop.
"One matter at a time," she said. "The Qingyun Tournament is over. Now we settle our old debts."
Chen Xuanyi: "You—!"
Her hands trembled violently around the swords.
If not for her body being as weak as frayed cloth, her grip too feeble, she would have already shredded his heart.
Both were giving their all, locked in a life-or-death struggle—yet their push-and-pull resembled two elderly men practicing tai chi.
"Stop—stop this!"
The formation dissipated, and the elders on the high platform rushed to intervene.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Several Nascent Soul experts shot toward the arena—only to be intercepted by a grinning figure.
Li Zhaoye tilted his head, his arrogance boundless.
"Come at me together. I’m in a hurry."
His lean frame stood before the arena like an insurmountable mountain.
With him there, she could finish what she started without worry.
Defying the entire world? So what?
...Hm?
Li Zhaoye turned in surprise.
One by one, figures leaped from the spectator stands—two, three, then more.
Disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect, Jiang Ling, Feng Baiyan, and countless unnamed cultivators lined up beside him.
They weren’t strong.
Yet together, they formed a fragile but unyielding human wall.
Luo Luo’s heart swelled. She released the swords and formed a seal.
"Clang!"
Twin Blades United!
Qiushui and Changtian had always been a pair.
The blades slashed diagonally, blood spraying.
A horrific wound split Chen Xuanyi’s chest, and the unassimilated Taiyi True Breath erupted in violent bursts, gushing out with his soul’s blood for all to see.
